I gotta admit as I open this column for Against All Odds, and the picks therein, I got zero interest in this whole PPV. MAYBE to see how Barbed Wire Massacre 2 comes out, but that's it. I can't, and won't pick Abyss/Mesias, since it's already been done, and I won't have that tarnish my record. I am also not goijng to pick the "Drinking Championship" Match between Young and Storm, because I won't recognize an angle that is that repulsive in my eyes. With that being said, I'll get down to business. I gotta admit, I have zero knowledge of what's gone down lately, so this may be a little more off than usual. But here goes.

TRACI BROOKS vs. PAYTON BANKS

I have to assume, from past knowledge, that Payton Banks is indy wrestler Rain from the Lacey & Rain tag team, as I saw her as Roode's "fan" in segments a while back. If I'm wrong, someone correct me, please. As far as the match goes, we all know it's going to be a dirty finish, with either Roode getting involved or someone getting involved for Traci, most notably Booker since they have a match later on in the show. Personally, I am glad that Brooks is away from Roode, and let's see how she can woman up in a grudge match. I hope it's half the hype I'm trying to give it. Personally, I doubt it. But I can still hope.

WINNER: Payton Banks

Case vs. Case Match
PETEY WILLIAMS vs. SCOTT STEINER

Ok, help me out here, from the "Feast or fired" idea that flunked like a dead guppy, these cases are still being fought over? Isn't BG doing his tag shot now? I thought this idea got scrapped. I am assuming that Steiner still has the X title shot, and Williams the world title shot, which would obviously mean a Steiner win, as I doubt highly that TNA would promote a World title match featuring an X Division wrestler. Steiner can out muscle Williams and then some, and I doubt highly that Williams could hit the canadian destroyer on Steiner. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm going with my brain on this one.

WINNER: Scott Steiner

BOOKER T. vs. ROBERT ROODE

It's been a couple of months since Booker's debuted, where's his title shot? Seriously folks, this mid card thing has to be eating at Booker, since he gave up near main event status back up north for fighting this guy who hasn't broken the TNA glass ceiling since back in his Team Canada days. On paper, this has the potential to be enjoyable. However, this is TNA, and I predict that they'll figure out some way to give the match to Booker, further burying Roode, and eventually leadng to a Booker T World title shot.

WINNER: Booker T

Hardcore Street Fight
The MOTOR CITY MACHINEGUNS & JAY LETHAL vs. TEAM 3D & JOHNNY DEVINE

When you put the fomer Dudley Boyz and the word hardcore in a wrestling match, one thing is a near lock. Entertainment. It will be chaotic. It will be masochistic beyond belief, and it will be gory. I've seen Lethal bleed while back in ROH with a feud with Low Ki. Lethal can get hardcore. Devine had time with Raven. 3D are the masters of hardcore, and I think Shelley and Sabin can roll with the best of them. I think this will be a show stealer. This could be very enjoyable, or very bad. I doubt there'll be a middle ground. However, 3D's rep as hardcore gods will get them over here. I wish I could say differently, but it's what I think.

WINNERS: Team 3D & Johnny Devine

TNA World Tag Team Championship
AJ STYLES & TOMKO vs. BG JAMES & BOB ARMSTRONG

Isn't Bob Armstrong like near 70 years old? Great. The TNA Tag titles were held by a convicted felon who didn't wrestle because of a court order, and now are being competed for by a near 70 year old legend of the business. Great way to build up the prestige of the titles, boys. Why the hell, someone has to explain to me, why the hell they couldn't have made this Styles & Tomko vs. VKM or BG & Kip or the Outlaws, or whatever? I NEED TO KNOW why this is this way. I don't know, and it's repugnant to think what could happen to these titles. NO disrespect to BG and Bob Armstrong, but come on. It's not funny that this man has a title shot in this company at this age. It's bad enough I nearly lost my lunch looking at Kevin Nash on the Genesis DVD cover, but this is too far.

WINNERS: AJ Styles & Tomko

TNA Women's Championship Match

AWESOME KONG vs. ODB

If there's one woman out there tough enough to hang with Kong, it's ODB. No disrespect to Gail Kim, she's technically sound enough to take Kong's strength away from her, but punch for punch, ODB is the closest woman out there that can hang with the champ. Personally, I said hang, not win. Kong is just too damn intimidating, and overpowering for these women at this time. I would suspect Kong holds the belt for the forseeable future until Kim is ready to return, and then hence, a major program ensues with the champ and former champion, which I would bet would be very entertaining.

WINNER: Awesome Kong

TNA World Heavyweight Championship
Special Enforcer: Samoa Joe

KURT ANGLE vs. CHRISTIAN CAGE

So, Joe is reduced to being a ringside viewer for a PPV. Really smart. I know some people would disagree with me, but I have to believe that guys like Joe and Homicide, guys who were main eventers back in ROH, have to be seething as to how they've been booked in TNA thus far. Yes, Homicide's been World tag champ, but where's his X title run? He could set it on fire, literally. And what about Joe with the world title? What in the hell is he doing as an enforcer for a rematch that is so old, it's grayer than some of the hairs on my head. Angle has all the cards against him, so to speak, but he'll figure out a way to sneak through and keep the belt, and somehow piss off Joe to set up the DX Main event, where we'll go to next month, where Angle will weasel his way out of that one, and keep the belt until this company eventually folds from bad booking. I mean it, does ANYONE care about this title match?

WINNER: Kurt Angle

No Sting. No LAX. No X title match. A match that had to be taped because of stipulations in an arena in a wrestling town like Greenville, South Carolina that has to basically almost give tickets away to fill the place up. A match for a "drinking championship." A reprise of a gimmick from almost three PPVs ago. Wow, can you make this up, ladies and gentlemen? I don't think so.

Now, I know I'm going to get ripped for being so negative, but damnit, this sucks. When you compare this card, this PPV card with what WWE is doing in a week and change, it's pathetic. TWO chamber matches to get the Mania main events. Compare that to a title match with a rivalry older than WWE's existence, and a match that had to be taped even before the first bell of the show sounds. It's ludicrous. TNA's booking team has really hit rock bottom from where I sit. I don't care what people say about these opinions, because from what I can see, it's all true.

If you think I'm wrong, debate me. TELL ME WHY, and I'll put your opinions up on my blog for the world to see. I'll give you the links to the Palace Project at the end of this column.

Speaking about some other TNA issues that I have seen come up, I am not surprised that TNA brought Curry Man in. I know who Curry Man is, and at least, they're not taking the paychecks away from a talented man like the man under the yellow mask. I would love to see a better picture of Curry Man, because the pics I have seen are thumbnails, and awfully difficult to get a good view. As for Stone Cold Shark Boy, no comment.

They didn't offer a new contract to Raven. Why? I know Raven's in ring time is near an end, if not well past an end, but his mind is still a weapon, and one that should be taken advantage of. If he didn't piss off anyone in the office, I am surprised that the Raven effect wasn't brought up to the office for some creative juices to flow. Although, I would think, as I am writing this, that Raven may not go for that type of an idea, as he has not been much of a people person throughout his career, at least, gimmick wise.

"The first round of drug testing is complete in TNA, but no penalties will be imposed on talent as this first round was a preliminary round to warn anyone if they come back positive to take necessary measures. Everyone in the company was tested, including TNA President Dixie Carter." That's a quote from the Wrestling Observer. I got a question. Why test for drugs if you're going to have a preliminary round to warn talent? Isn't that the pot calling the kettle black, ladies and gentlemen? I mean, really. TEST THEM, if they come back positive, FIRE THEM. End of story. It's not that hard. But, this is the drug issue again, and like I said in my blog, I am so sick of hearing about it. It's never going to get any better, and to think otherwise is just optimistic hullabaloo.

I can't believe I said hullabaloo in a column. A first for the Palace franchise. :)

I was checking out a source I use for New Japan notes to talk briefly about the IWGP title unification match, and I have read that Tomko got hurt while in Japan working for New Japan. Here comes another swerve with the tag titles. Jeez, what a nightmare. It never ends, ladies and gentlemen, especially for a title in TNA that has zero credibility, since it's been one by one person in the past, and held by a convicted felon. Nice.

I have to say, though, I am VERY intrigued by the forthcoming release of the Global Impact DVD, the first go round for TNA talents being heavily used in Japan for New Japan Pro Wrestling. The next go round is set for 2/17, and the two matches that will be featured is as I said, the IWGP title unification bout between Angle and current IWGP title holder Shinsuke Nakamura. The other match is a rematch of sorts from a while back when Hiroshi Tanahashi came to TNA and fought AJ Styles. Now, after recently losing the New Japan recognized version of the IWGP title, he faces Styles again with a lot more experience, and a hell of a lot more vigor to his step, I would believe. I hope Styles can flip the switch from his comedic insanity that has plagued his status in TNA to be able to pull off a good performance in Japan next week, as the land of the rising sun has not been easy to US talents, now with Tomko down, and the former Senshi being hurt a couple of weeks back.

I guess that's it for now. Strict TNA business. One WWE comment, though. SmackDown! is leaving the CW Network.

Nice job, Vince. When that happens, there goes the last of pro wrestling on network television. Good job, Vinnie. Real swift.

My email is Klac1102@aol.com.  I welcome all debates and comments.

The Palace Project websites is an extension of this column, featuring a blog, forums, and podcasts.  Check it out by going to http://mikesiciliano.blogspot.com.

Thanks a lot for reading.

NOTE: The views of this column do not reflect those of the administration of this website.